Stephen Kearney will dedicate himself to local people: Bearder

8.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th May 2008

Catherine Bearder congratulates Stephen Kearney: "Stephen is a great candidate with enormous energy and drive and will set this campaign alight. Good luck to him and the local team."

Stephen Kearney has received the warm backing of the Lib Dems 2001 General Election candidate for Henley-on-Thames, Catherine Bearder. Stephen Kearney has been selected by the Liberal Democrats to be their candidate for the Henley-on-Thames by-election.

Catherine Bearder was the candidate for Henley in the 2001 General Election when Boris Johnson first stood in Henley. In November, the Liberal Democrats elected Catherine to 2nd place on their South-East England list for the 2009 European elections.

Catherine said:

"I am delighted that Stephen has been chosen to fight for the people of this area. They have too long been abandoned by their MP for the celebrity life in London with sometimes two other jobs as well as supposedly representing them in Westminster.

"Now Boris Johnson has permanently left his constituency for London he should stand aside for a person like Stephen who will dedicate himself to the local people and not get distracted by the bright lights."